Conversion between aspect ratios in camera

1. A method for converting between aspect ratios, comprising:

obtaining an input image having a source aspect ratio;

applying, by a processing device, a transformation to the input image to scale and warp the input image to generate an output image having a target aspect ratio, the target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio, the output image non-linearly warped relative to the input image such that a distortion in the output image relative to the input image is greater in a corner region of the output image than a center region of the output image, wherein applying the transformation comprises shifting pixels of the input image by an amount represented by a non-linear function of original pixel positions of the pixels, wherein applying the transformation to the input image to scale and warp the input image comprises:

applying a scaling function to the input image to linearly stretch or compress the input image to generate a scaled image having the target aspect ratio; and

applying a non-linear warping function to the scaled image to reduce distortion of a center region of the scaled image relative to the input image and increase distortion of a corner region of the scaled image relative to the input image; and

outputting the output image having the target aspect ratio.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the transformation comprises applying a combined function that performs both warping and scaling.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing device comprises a camera.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output image has a same field of view as the input image.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source aspect ratio comprises a 4:3 aspect ratio and the target aspect ratio comprises a 16:9 aspect ratio.

6. A method for converting between aspect ratios, comprising:

obtaining an input image having a source aspect ratio;

applying, by a processing device, a transformation to the input image to scale and warp the input image to generate an output image having a target aspect ratio, the target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio, the output image non-linearly warped relative to the input image such that a distortion in the output image relative to the input image is greater in a corner region of the output image than a center region of the output image, wherein applying the transformation comprises shifting pixels of the input image by an amount represented by a non-linear function of original pixel positions of the pixels, wherein applying the transformation to the input image to scale and warp the input image comprises:

applying a non-linear warping function to the input image to generate a warped image, the warped image having a reduced distortion of a center region of the warped image relative to the input image and an increased distortion of a corner region of the warped image relative to the input image; and

applying a scaling function to the warped image to linearly stretch or compress the warped image to generate the output image having the target aspect ratio; and

outputting the output image having the target aspect ratio.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein applying the transformation comprises applying a combined function that performs both warping and scaling.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the output image has a same field of view as the input image.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the source aspect ratio comprises a 4:3 aspect ratio and the target aspect ratio comprises a 16:9 aspect ratio.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the processing device comprises a camera.

11. A computing apparatus comprising:

an input device to obtain an input image having a source aspect ratio;

a processor to process the input image captured by the image sensor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform steps including:

applying a transformation to the input image to scale and warp the input image to generate an output image having a target aspect ratio, the target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio, the output image non-linearly warped relative to the input image such that a distortion in the output image relative to the input image is greater in a corner region of the output image than a center region of the output image, wherein applying the transformation comprises shifting pixels of the input image by an amount represented by a non-linear function of original pixel positions of the pixels, wherein applying the transformation to the input image to scale and warp the input image comprises:

applying a scaling function to the input image to linearly stretch or compress the input image to generate a scaled image having the target aspect ratio; and

applying a non-linear warping function to the scaled image to reduce distortion of a center region of the scaled image relative to the input image and increase distortion of a corner region of the scaled image relative to the input image; and

an output device to output the output image having the target aspect ratio.

12. The computing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein applying the transformation comprising applying a combined function that performs both warping and scaling.

13. The computing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the computing apparatus comprises a camera.

14. The computing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the output image has a same field of view as the input image.

15. The computing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the source aspect ratio comprises a 4:3 aspect ratio and the target aspect ratio comprises a 16:9 aspect ratio.

16. A computing apparatus comprising:

an input device to obtain an input image having a source aspect ratio;

a processor to process the input image captured by the image sensor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform steps including:

applying a transformation to the input image to scale and warp the input image to generate an output image having a target aspect ratio, the target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio, the output image non-linearly warped relative to the input image such that a distortion in the output image relative to the input image is greater in a corner region of the output image than a center region of the output image, wherein applying the transformation comprises shifting pixels of the input image by an amount represented by a non-linear function of original pixel positions of the pixels, wherein applying the transformation to the input image to scale and warp the input image comprises:

applying a non-linear warping function to the input image to generate a warped image, the warped image having a reduced distortion of a center region of the warped image relative to the input image and an increased distortion of a corner region of the warped image relative to the input image;

applying a scaling function to the warped image to linearly stretch or compress the warped image to generate the output image having the target aspect ratio; and

an output device to output the output image having the target aspect ratio.

17. The computing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein applying the transformation comprises applying a combined function that performs both warping and scaling.

18. The computing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the computing apparatus comprises a camera.

19. The computing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the output image has a same field of view as the input image.

20. The computing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the source aspect ratio comprises a 4:3 aspect ratio and the target aspect ratio comprises a 16:9 aspect ratio.